Test Academy Reviews

Selective school · Sydney City & East

Sydney Girls High School: Selective Entry & How to Prepare

A clear guide to Sydney Girls High School (Surry Hills, Sydney City & East) — what kind of school it is, how entry works through the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, and the most effective way to prepare.

Sydney Girls High School at a glance

Location
Surry Hills, Sydney City & East
Type
Fully selective
Enrolment
Girls
Year levels
Year 7–12
Entry test
NSW Selective High School Placement Test

Sydney Girls High School is a fully selective school for girls at Surry Hills, near the centre of Sydney. It offers a demanding academic program alongside a strong tradition in music, debating and sport.

Reputation and results

Sydney Girls High School is a long-established and highly regarded selective school for girls, with an excellent record in the HSC. It draws strong demand from families across the city and inner suburbs, and competition for places is intense.

How entry works

Places at Sydney Girls High School are offered through the NSW Selective High School Placement Test. Students sit the test in Year 6 (for Year 7 entry), list their preferred schools in order, and receive at most one initial offer based on performance and those preferences. For the full mechanics — sections, timing and how placement is decided — see our guide to the Selective test.

How to prepare for Sydney Girls High School

Because entry is relative and competitive, the families who do best prepare in a way that mirrors the real exam: timed, on a screen, with every mistake reviewed properly. Test Academy’s online platform recreates that environment, marks instantly, and gives the kind of detailed writing feedback that few other providers offer.

  • Aim for genuine breadth of ability built steadily rather than through intensive last-minute work.
  • Rank your preferences truthfully, since your choices influence where an offer is made.
  • Treat unofficial 'cut-off' figures online with scepticism, as none are formally published.

Explore realistic practice tests Read parent reviews

Frequently asked questions

How do you get into Sydney Girls High School?

Entry is through the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, which students sit in Year 6 (for Year 7 entry). You list Sydney Girls High School among your school preferences when you apply through the NSW Department of Education, and offers are made on combined test performance and the order of your preferences. There is no published pass mark.

Do you need tutoring to get into Sydney Girls High School?

Tutoring isn't compulsory, but Sydney Girls High School is highly competitive, so genuine familiarity with the on-screen test format and steady practice with good feedback make a real difference. Many families build that online rather than through weekly classes.

What is the best way to prepare for Sydney Girls High School?

Practise in the real computer-based format, review every wrong answer with a worked explanation, and get specific feedback on writing. Test Academy’s platform is built to do exactly this, which is why we rate it the strongest preparation option we’ve reviewed in Sydney.